Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative: what is it?

One of the most important philosophical proposals on morality in history, summarized.

Ethics and morality are elements that profoundly influence our behavior, and on which philosophy and the different sciences that analyze human behavior have tried to reflect and investigate. We limit our behavior in pursuit of the possibility of being able to coexist with others. Why do we act as we do?

There are many philosophical lines of thought that have raised questions about these issues and have explored the concepts developed in order to give them an explanation. One of them is that of Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative, which we will discuss in this paper.which we will discuss in this article.

Kantian morality

Before seeing what the categorical imperative is, it is necessary to make a brief commentary on some of the aspects of Kant's conception of morality. Immanuel Kant was a theologian deeply concerned about this issue, in an era of great contrasts between ideological currents with different views on how to behave and direct behavior.

The author considered morality as a rational element, far removed from empirical elements and based on a universal ethic. and based on universal ethics. For Kant, the moral act is that which is performed as a duty, as an end in itself: the moral act is that in which one acts on the basis of reason, not on the basis of self-love or self-interest. On the contrary, they will not be those that are carried out by chance, with interest or as a means to achieve or avoid other elements.

Moral action is based on good will. The act itself must be seen in its subjective sense to be valued as moral or immoral. The moral act seeks the happiness of others, which in turn enables one's own happiness by being part of humanity, rather than seeking one's own happiness by satisfying desires or escaping Pain and suffering. by being part of humanity, instead of seeking one's own happiness by satisfying desires or fleeing from pain and suffering. To be moral requires to be free, in a sense that Kant relates to the possibility of transcending one's own desires and imperatives in order to achieve transcendence.

Regarding concepts such as good and evil, widely linked to morality, Kant considers that acts are not good or bad in themselves, but that this depends on the subject who carries them out. In fact, what is moral is not the act itself but the purpose behind it. the purpose behind itThe good person is the one who deviates from the moral laws that govern him, subordinating his universal moral motivations to those of self-interest and self-sensibility, while the good person is the one who follows morality as a universal law in his life and on the basis of it carries out and fulfills his desires on the basis of that morality. A core concept in his concept of morality is the idea of the categorical imperative.

Kant's idea of categorical imperative.

We have all at one time or another done or pretended to do the right thing, or felt bad about not doing it. Kant's concept of the categorical imperative is deeply tied to this fact.

A categorical imperative is understood as the act or proposition that is carried out by the fact of being considered necessary, without there being any other reason to be carried out than that consideration. They would be those constructions that are carried out in the form of "I must", without being conditioned by any other consideration, and would be universal and applicable at any time or situation.. The imperative is an end in itself and not a means to achieve a particular result. For example, we can generally say "I must tell the truth", "human beings must show solidarity", "I must help others when they are having a bad time" or "we must respect others".

The categorical imperative does not necessarily have to have an additive meaning, but can also be restrictive. That is to say, it is not only about doing something, but it can also be based on not doing it or not doing it. For example, most people do not steal or harm others because they consider such an action to be negative per se.

The categorical imperative is an eminently rational constructIt is intended to treat humanity (understood as a quality) as an end and not as a means to an end. However, these are imperatives that are difficult to see in real life in this sense, since we are also very much subject to our desires and guide our actions on the basis of these.

Categorical Imperative and Hypothetical Imperative

The notion of the categorical imperative is based primarily on doing something for the sake of doing it, the act itself being an end and unconditional. However, although we can find some exponents of the categorical imperative in real life, most of our actions are motivated by aspects other than the act of doing them.

For example, we study to pass a test or go shopping to feed ourselves. I go to class to learn, I work to satisfy my vocation and/or obtain a salary, or we exercise to relax or get in good physical shape.

We are talking about what the same author would consider a hypothetical imperative, a conditioned demand that is used as a means to an end. a means to an end. It is a proposition that is not universal but relative to the situation we are facing, and it is the most common type of imperative even when we believe that we are doing it as an end in itself.

We must bear in mind that many of the imperatives that govern us can be categorical or hypothetical depending on how they are formulated. I may not steal because it seems wrong to me or I may not steal because I am afraid of being caught and taken to jail. In this sense, it is not the action itself but the presence or absence of a motive beyond morality that leads to the action that will generate that we are before one type of imperative or another.

Kantian formulations

Throughout his work, Kant generates different formulations that summarize the moral commandment behind the categorical imperative. Specifically, five major complementary and linked formulations stand out. They are based on the existence of maxims that guide our conduct, these being subjective when they are valid only for the will of the one who possesses them or objective if they are valid both for oneself and for others, having the same value for everyone regardless of who performs them. The formulations in question are the following.

• Formula of universal lawThe formula of the law of nature: "Work only according to such a maxim that you can will at the same time that it becomes a universal law".
• Formula of the law of natureFormula of the law of nature: "Act as if the maxim of your action should become, by your will, the universal law of nature.
• Formula of the end in itselfAct in such a way that you use humanity, both in yourself and in the person of others, always with the end in view and never only as a means.
• Formula of autonomyFormula of autonomy: "Act as if by means of your maxims you were always a legislating member of a universal kingdom of ends".

In conclusion, these formulas propose that we act on the basis of universal moral values or values that we would rationally consider that we should all follow, self-imposed by our own reason and considering these values an end in themselves. By following these maxims we would act on the basis of our categorical imperatives.We would also live by seeking the happiness of others and acting morally, so that we would also live by doing what is right and deriving gratification from this fact.

Bibliographical references

• Echegoyen, J. (1996). History of Philosophy. Volume 2: Medieval and modern philosophy. Editorial Edinumen
• Kant, I. (2002). Fundamentación de la metafísica de las costumbres. Madrid. Alianza Editorial (Original 1785).
• Paton, H.J. (1948). Categorical Imperative: A study in Kant's moral philosophy. Chicago. University of Chicago Press.